Travel: City’s attractions larger than live

Ellen Beardmore

With a name like The Titanic, you’d expect a hotel to be slightly on the larger, and more luxurious, side.

But The Titanic Hotel in Liverpool exceeded all our expectations.

Our room was the size of an apartment, the bed could easily have accommodated four, and the other half’s tomahawk steak in the restaurant - pictured - was so mammoth he was stunned into silence when it arrived.

The hotel - eight minutes from the main Lime Street railway station, accessed directly from Sheffield through East Midlands Trains - is part of the restoration of historic warehouses at Stanley Dock.

In the past they stored the city’s tobacco imports from across the Atlantic, and one warehouse was the biggest brick building in the world.

Now the North warehouse is home to the Titanic, with modern, cool interiors and downstairs spa.

The corridors are large enough for a car, and every floor has tall windows letting natural light flood in.

Our superior dockside room had views over the water and, as artwork, intricate ground floor plans from the doomed Titanic ship.

We arrived on a Friday night and headed straight for the Rum Bar - which has more than 60 different types of the spirit from around the world.

The cocktails are to die for, served at the stylish bar by uniformed staff, and incredibly potent.

Dinner was our saving grace, and what a dinner it was.

Impeccable service from our waiter meant he chose the other half’s entire meal, including that impressive, juicy and meaty-beyond-belief steak.

There was far too much for him to finish.

Pork belly starters were another highlight, and a full breakfast the next morning was streets ahead of usual hotel fare.

To burn off our calorific weekend, we took a stroll through the historic docks area, which leads past the River Mersey and eventually to the world-famous King’s and Albert Dock.

There is the chance to explore the past of another Liverpool icon, The Beatles.

A 4D film, room after room of memorabilia, and interactive displays bring to life the story of four lads who became the biggest band in the world. The Beatles Story, spread over two locations, is the largest permanent exhibition devoted to the band.

Even non-fans can appreciate the crazy levels of fame they reached, by watching footage of police on horseback patrolling the streets of New York as thousands of people turned up. There’s also the chance for budding musicians to enjoy an interactive drumming workshop with Ringo Starr.

Just a few minutes away is another giant - the sprawling shopping centre Liverpool One, with high street and independent shops galore.

We finished our break with a stop back near the railway station, at the Grade II-listed Philharmonic pub.

This gem is one of the most lavish and ornate pubs in the country, and another big attraction in a city that doesn’t do things by halves.